The Secretary of State may pay contributions to a local housing authority towards such expenditure incurred by them under section 244 (environmental works) as he may determine.
In the case of any expenditure, the contribution—
shall be equal to one-half of the amount of the expenditure; and
shall be payable in one sum or by two or more instalments, according as the Secretary of State may determine.
The aggregate of the expenditure towards which such contributions may be made with respect to a housing action area shall not exceed the sum arrived at by multiplying—
£600, by
the number of dwellings, houses in multiple occupation and hostels stated by the local housing authority under section 240(4)(b) to be in the areaX;
but two adjoining housing action areas may for this purpose be treated as one.
The Secretary of State may, with the consent of the Treasury—
by order substitute in subsections (2) and (3) another fraction for one-half and another amount for £400
direct that those subsections shall have effect, in the case of a housing action area specified in the direction or of a description so specified, with the substitution of a higher fraction or a greater amount than that for the time being specified in the subsection.
An order under subsection (4)(a)—
may make different provision with respect to different cases or descriptions of case, including different provision for different areas, and
shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the House of Commons.